Customer segmentation using unobserved heterogeneity in the perceived-value–loyalty–intentions link

Multiple facets of perceived value perceptions drive loyalty intentions. However, this value–loyalty link is not uniform for all customers. In fact, the present study identifies three different segments that are internally consistent and stable across different service industries, using two data sets: the wireless telecommunication industry (sample size 1122) and the financial services industry (sample size 982). Comparing the results of a single-class solution with finite mixture results confirms the existence of unobserved customer segments. The three established segments are “rationalists”, “functionalists” and “value maximizers”. These results point the way for value-based segmentation in loyalty initiatives and reflect the importance of a multidimensional conceptualization of perceived value, comprising cognitive and affective components. The present results substantiate the fact that assuming a homogeneous value–loyalty link provides a misleading view of the market. The paper derives implications for marketing research and practice in terms of segmentation, positioning, loyalty programs and strategic alliances.     

Regret and Regulation

We analyse the welfare effect of governmental regulation for individuals who consider anticipated regret in their decision-making process. Although governmental policies by directing choice, distort individual decisions in the private market, they can alleviate individuals’ pain associated with the feeling of regret. We analyse this trade-off and provide conditions under which the implied reduction of regret justifies regulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate our findings on tax deduction for non-insured losses, a well-studied social policy in insurance. Last, we consider heterogenous individuals and alternative social welfare functions and show that our results hold in these extended settings.     

Course Allocation via Stable Matching

The allocation of students to courses is a wide-spread and repeated task in higher education, often accomplished by a simple first-come first-served (FCFS) procedure. FCFS is neither stable nor strategy-proof, however. The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Al Roth and Lloyd Shapley for their work on the theory of stable allocations. This theory was influential in many areas, but found surprisingly little application in course allocation as of yet. In this paper, different approaches for course allocation with a focus on appropriate stable matching mechanisms are surveyed. Two such mechanisms are discussed in more detail, the Gale-Shapley student optimal stable mechanism (SOSM) and the efficiency adjusted deferred acceptance mechanism (EADAM). EADAM can be seen as a fundamental recent contribution which recovers efficiency losses from SOSM at the expense of strategy-proofness. In addition to these two important mechanisms, a survey of recent extensions with respect to the assignment of schedules of courses rather than individual courses is provided. The survey of the theoretical literature is complemented with results of a field experiment, which help understand the benefits of stable matching mechanisms in course allocation applications.     

Currency Areas and International Monetary Reform at the Dawn of a New Century

The Asian crisis and the creation of the euro have jump-started once again discussion of exchange rate systems, currency areas, and international monetary reform. The role of power in the international monetary system is discussed and its relevance to analysis of the new euro area as an instigator of change in the power configuration of the system. The dollar, euro, and yen areas have achieved a high degree of price stability, but international efficiency is seriously undermined by exchange rate gyrations of these three currencies. The best path to international monetary reform leads through a new international currency called the INTOR based on a G-3 monetary union platform possibly linked to gold.     

The relationship between development, investments, insecurity and social conditions in Colombia: a dynamic approach

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between economic development, investments, savings, insecurity and social conditions in Colombian departments. Using a dynamic heterogeneous panel analysis, we study the effects of insecurity and social conditions on economic development through an estimation of panel data cointegration techniques. The models applied in this study suggest a long-term relationship among economic development, investments, savings, social conditions and insecurity. Investments, savings and human development index have a positive and significant coefficient, which indicates that these variables produce incentives for economic development, whereas GINI and homicides have a negative relationship, demonstrating that these variables undermine economic development. All findings are important in the design of strategies and policies that strengthen income distribution equality, a key factor that determines growth and development through adequate government expenditures that encourage savings and investment decisions with the aim to improve welfare and the standard of living.     

Semiparametric diffusion estimation and application to a stock market index

The analysis of diffusion processes in financial models is crucially dependent on the form of the drift and diffusion coefficient functions. A new model for a stock market index process is proposed in which the index is decomposed into an average growth process and an ergodic diffusion. The ergodic diffusion part of the model is not directly observable. A methodology is developed for estimating and testing the coefficient functions of this unobserved diffusion process. The estimation is based on the observations of the index process and uses semiparametric and non-parametric techniques. The testing is performed via the wild bootstrap resampling technique. The method is illustrated on S&P 500 index data.     

The sources of use knowledge: Towards integrating the dynamics of technology use and design in the articulation of societal challenges

This paper reviews three strands of the innovation literature that have presented innovation as a distributed process that combines knowledge of designers and users: user innovations, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and domestication research. These literatures have explored different aspects of the micro-processes through which use and design knowledge are locally embedded. This paper pulls together insights from the literatures, and identifies an important gap: the connections between the local embedding of use and design knowledge, and the meso dynamics of industrial and technological change. The paper then develops a number of integrating concepts and propositions for a framework to study the co-evolution of use and design in innovation processes. It also demonstrates that this framework is most valuable in researching how societal challenges become articulated over time in processes of technological change and innovation.     

Market Coupling and the CWE Project

The article copes with the ongoing effort to establish implicit auctions to allocate transmission capacity on cross-border interconnectors in the power grid. By the means of implicit auctions (in contrast to explicit auctions), cross-border capacities are included in the clearing of local power exchanges. Concerning the day ahead auction, ‘market coupling’ plays an important role. Market coupling connects (formerly often national) electricity markets, simplifying cross-border trade. One of the main drivers of market coupling projects is the pursuit of European market integration i.e. allowing for convenient cross-border trade. The other reason is the perception that explicit auctions of transmission capacity (in addition to energy auctions which are often performed later) do sometimes lead to sub-optimal results. The objective function of market coupling is the maximisation of total welfare of all connected markets. Further to the explanation of different market coupling models (also regarding capacity calculation), the current development in Europe is wrapped up—including the CWE market coupling (Central Western Europe) project. The CWE market coupling is announced to start in fall 2010, coupling the day-ahead electricity markets of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.